“I have been told by people involved the signal were working fine, no problem there. “
I’d guess there’s no trains on the track, what with the people walking in the middle of it.
Wonder what color it turns when there is a train?
: )
The event recorder in the Metrolink unit was damaged during the collision and they were unable to download it in the field. It's been sent to the manufacturer for further testing and downloading. The data about the operation of the Metrolink train came from the event recorder in the cab car on the other end. Likewise, the data from the UP train comes from its second unit (UP8491).
The data shows that the Metrolink train accelerated away from its station stop and passed the signal at CP Topanga, about 1.1 mile distance, at 50-52 MPH. The engineer then reduced the throttle to allow the train's speed to fall to the 40 MPH Maximum Authorized Speed for the six degree left-hand curve starting up the Pass. The grade here is 1%. Its last recorded speed before impacting the UP train was 42, which was about 600 feet beyond CP Topanga. The UP train's speed was 25 (operating prepared to enter the siding).
It is 1.37 miles from the Chatsworth station to the point of impact.
The reenactments earlier this week show that the line of sight (i.e., when both trains could see each other on the curve) to be approximately 1000 feet.